Season set to enter play-off stage

There is only one normal league match remaining in the Tennent’s Coleraine Pool League, before it enters the end of season play offs to decide this season’s titles.

The remaining fixtures will be played next Tuesday night, as the league has a number of players on international duty at the European Championships this week in Bridlington, England. The only league action this week will the the final of the Coleraine Times Captains Cup. This will be held in the Bullseye tonight (Tuesday) with Floyds’ Darryl Watt facing Mary Pats’ Martin McNeill, with the Macosquin man receiving a frame start in the best of seven contest.

Last week’s league fixtures have seen a number of play off places confirmed. The Sperrin had a bye and, as such, they confirm top spot. In play-off semi final number 1, for the league title, they are likely to play Floyds, although Floyds could overtake Forge A, as they have a match in hand. They would also need the young Forge Bar team to beat the Forge A in next week’s match, which will be a tall order. In the second semi final, it is likely to be Bullseye A vs Forge A, although the only question is who will have home advantage, with the Bullseye A currently in second place, but the Forge A could take that position if they win and the Bullseye A lose their difficult match against the league leaders.

In the Second Division play offs, it will be Bullseye B and Railway Arms who will have home advantage. However, their opponents are still to be decided. Forge Bar, Mary Pats and Bullseye Old Boys are only separated by a point. Seventh is currently occupied by Forge Bar, a point aheasd of both their rivals. Mary Pats currently hold 8th but only due to having more wins than the Bullseye Old Boys. As the Forge Bar have more wins than both, they will take one of the play off places. This is due to Mary Pats and Bullseye Old Boys having to play each other next week. Only a win will do for the old boys, but they are more than capable, in what will be the biggest match of next week.

With the unfortunate withdrawal of the Blackthorn, the Roost bottom cup will only have three teams in it. The committee has decided on a round robin format for this, which will consist of Roost, Social Club and which ever one of Mary Pats or the Bullseye Old Boys who miss out on the top eight.

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